Bonds fired from Marlins coaching role

MIAMI: Home-run king Barry Bonds has been fired as hitting coach of the Miami Marlins after just one season, US media reports said Monday (Tuesday in Manila). Bonds, whose record-breaking career was marred by his involvement in baseball’s steroids scandal, was dumped by the Marlins after the Florida franchise finished the season 79-82. As well as Bonds, third base coach Lenny Harris and bullpen coach Reid Cornelius were axed from manager Don Mattingly’s staff. Bonds paid the price for a disappointing offensive season which produced only 655 runs, 27th out of 30 Major League Baseball teams. The Marlins also managed only 128 home runs, higher than only the Atlanta Braves’ total of 122. Bonds, 52, retired from the San Francisco Giants in 2007 after 22 seasons, having amassed a record 762 home runs.